EU registration and family cards
You will know how to register, what to prove and how the family card works.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens in Spain do not get a residence permit or a TIE. They register instead, and their non-EU family members get a separate family card. Register within 3 months of arrival if you stay longer than 3 months; a non-EU relative applies for the family card within 3 months of…
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Registering as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen (certificado de registro)
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen staying in Spain beyond the first three months, you register at the Oficina de Extranjería or a police station and receive a paper certificate that shows your NIE.
What EU citizens must prove when working, studying, retired or without income
To register as an EU citizen you prove what you do in Spain: a job or a business, or enough money and health cover.
Using your paper EU registration certificate with banks and landlords
Your paper registration certificate is a valid document for EU citizens, even when a bank or landlord expects a card.
Living in Spain as an EU citizen without registering
Registration is mandatory for EU citizens who stay in Spain beyond the first 3 months. Skipping it carries a fine and makes daily life harder.
The EU family residence card for non-EU relatives
A non-EU spouse, partner or relative of an EU citizen applies for the family card within 3 months of entering Spain. The card shows their NIE and lets them live and work in Spain.
Renewing and travelling with the EU family card
The EU family card is for non-EU family members of EU citizens living in Spain. The three EU documents are compared on Registering as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen (certificado de registro).
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